Covering material



v juiyz, 1935. TOPPlNG 2,006,417

' COVERING MATERIAL Filed Sept. 1, 1955 ZSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JbH/VFZ 7PP/NG W r +b ATTORNEYS J. A. TQPPING COVERING MATERIAL Filed Se t 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z5 Z2 Z5 2 36 3/ 25 25 m 30 O O O O O 0 25 Z5 36 242 22 2'2 36 i5 Z2 Z6 3 35 2 z? W5 3/ I INVENTOR ATTO 5Y5 Patented Jul 2,1935

NITED STATES COVERING MATERIAL:

v John Al Topping, Bronxville, N. j Application September- 1, 1933, Serial No. 687,794;

3 Claims. (O l. res- 7) Thisinvention relates to co'vering material and more particularly relates to covering'material in stripform having. tabs'upon the edge'thereof to be exposed.

Strips of covering material laid. in overlapping arrangement have been vused for .roofs andfor other surfaces and strips-having, along the edgev thereof to be exposed in the overlapping arrangement, tabs separated by spaces between the tabs have found wide use for such coverings. In order to produce designs in the assembly .of the strips upon the surface to be. covered or to produce designs in the strips themselves, such cov-- ering strips have been made with their edges formed in outlines of ornamental character. For example, strips withrectangular tabs andwide rectangular spaces therebetween or with hex-. agonal tabs separated by hexagonal spaces have been used. 'It also has been proposed for certain ornamental purposes to provide a strip witha sinuous outline. Such strips may be laidupon the surface to be covered with the tabs in different courses in certain relations'to each otherand with. said tabs in certain relations to the spaces be tween thetabs to produce. different design effects.

Particularly for this purpose have been used strips, such as those with hexagonal tabs or with edges of sinuous outline, in which the'tabs are of a form complementary to the spaces between the tabs. This form of strip has not only made it possible to produce pleasing design effects in the assembly 'of the strips upon a surface but has contributed to the saving of material since such a strip may be out from a sheet'without waste along the ornamental edges thereof. This result is made possible because-the tabs formed upon one portion of the, sheet severed by such a cut fit into the spaces formed in the sheet upon theother portionthereof. Moreover, such a severing cut in themore recent methods and apparatus for producing covering elements may be made in a continuous operati-on'by fitting to a suitable cylindrical member in a machine producing covering elements a knife or cutting edge of the desired form so that acontinuously moving sheet passingunder the cylinder will have the severing cut made longitudinally of the sheet to produce the complementary tabs and spaces.

Whilefor certain purposes a simple form of tab and space complementary thereto is satisfactory and may be made by the processes heretofore known as described above, inother cases it is desirable to produce variations of theme-- chanical form of such. strips.

Such modified 1 forms may iormay not. have design characteristics and certain designs mayresult from. laying strips of said type upon a surface. For. example, a strip having an edge of sinuous outline maybe provided with notchesiat either side of each tab thus modifying also thezform of the space between the tabs. Such designs are the subject of my design, applications, Serial .No. 49,184 and: Serial No. 49,185, filed Sept. 1, 1933. 0 f y .1 The .present invention is concerned with the mechanical form .of the. strips .with respect to the relation of tabs and spaces. It is also.concerned-with the process of producing such. modifled forms of covering strips while maintaining the advantages'ofproducing such stripsfin a.continuous process withoutwjaste of .thematerial'in forming the tabs and spaces.

According to my inventionl' form. ina sheet a severing cut. of such outline" as will produce upon each side thereof tabs andzspaces between tabs. Within the scope of "my'invention :these tabsand spaces in the strip on one 1 side of theseverin cutimay be equal .in width and complementary to each otherin outline or theymaygbeunequal. in widths and lengths and complementary only to thecorresponding spacesand tabs on the other side of the severing cut. :In the .preferredeme bodimentzof my invention, however, l form on the portions on either side of the severingcut a series of tabs of a given. outline, whichoutline is complementary to the outline of the space separating the tabs. It will be thusj'seenithat the tabs and spaces on the other side of. the severing out also will be complementary to each otherand complementary respectively to the spaces and tabs on the opposite side of thesevering out. While in some cases,-as.stated'- above, I may desire to produce strips withnon-uniformtabs and spaces in .the assembled covering structure,;in general, from a commercial standpointthefor- .mation of the. tabs of equal and complementary likewise the spaces on allthestripsare alike the two strips thus producedare interchangeable.

.The process by which, according to the present invention, I propose to make the modifications re-' ferred to above in the strips of the type described", consists of removing a portion of the sheet adjacent to and at either side of the severing cut. in

order toTformthenotches or cutouts in the tabs. 5'?

While it isnecessary to waste a small piece of the covering material for each such cutout formed, I am thus able by a single simple operation which, as will be understood from the description to follow, may be carried out simultaneously with the formation of the severing cut, to modify the form of the tab and, as well, the form of the space between the tabs. Particularly in assemblies of covering strips, such modifications of the tabs andof thespace between the tabs is eifective to producedifferences in design which are novel and pleasing but which may be made by the process proposed by the present application withoutunduly adding to the expense of manufacture. by outlines which may be symmetrical but as to the outline of the parts at each side of a laterally extending axis of the design i arevnotzcomple mentary.

The invention will be more clearly understood fromltheivdescription'; taken in' connection with theidizawingsinwhich v I Figure- 1 showsasheet cut. inhexagonal outline with notches t inrlthe outer-ledges of thetabs;

Figure-2:;shows an assembly of the strips of Figure 1. v

Figuresfi -and 4rshow an apparatus. for producing the strips of.-the invention;

Figure 5rshows a. sheet cut. sinuous outline to produce strips.v having notches inzthe .sides of the tabs.

Figure 6. shows an assemblyfiofw the strips .of Figure-5; I i

Figure 7 shows acutting tool.

In Figurel a sheet-of. covering materialqis shown as indicated by the number I. Such -a sheet may he of any suitable materials For surfaces exposed tothe weather such; coverings are. commonly made of roofing materials-.suchasrooh ing feltE impregnated. withtasphalt: and .having a surfacecoating of asphalt thereon toibind;.upon the covering a surfacing material .suchzas granular slate. Imcari'ying out: the process; of r in! vention the: sheet of materialmay be severed into two parts,v=for example by.- a cut: 2 iextendingwgen orally lengthwiseof the sheet 2 and so :formed as to produce ineach of ,the strips tabs..3 separated by thecut: 2.. In the form :of. strip illustrated in Figured these mm are lofhexagonaliushape and; asmay :be;:seen from the drawingsoinzthe .particular case-illustrated are of like.:outline' and complementary :tothe spaces between the tabs; Thereare therefore produ'cedqon a the strips :on either sideof the cut of hexagonal outline J tabs of like shape or form and sizesothattwkrenzthe strip atone, side of thecutris separated-frown that at the other side of the icut;they may "be: placed one-upomthe other-anduthestabs asewell as the spaces'willbe-alik'e in thetworstripst Such aset' of strips maybe .used to form a hexagonal design: in the roof or a simulation. of :anassembly of hex-- agonal shingles as shown 'generally in :Figure 2.

In addition. to' the severingrcut :2 forming the general outline of theutabs andispaces, according to: :my invention 1 form the a cuts orxcutouts' '5 which, in the .particular designnof strip :illus-' trated inFiguresl and. 2, is :ofza circular outline; This acut.5 is madeipartlyn in one strip: andupartly in thenothen strip at eaeh'isidewof .theseverin'g cut 2..;'There1 is .thus'removed apiece ofxsmaterial 6 from; the-sheet I s I ThQFIBYDOVElhQf' thfiscpieceiof materialsforms' a notch :11 in: one stripsundra notch 8 sin ;the1other strip-Then notch :I inx-theapan ticular designwillust'ratedvini 1 is maderin' thexeanedge ofcthesrecessbetweenzthe tabs; The

Such assembly designs are characterized notch 8 is made in the forward edge of the tab. The removal of said material from both portions of the sheet at either side of the severing cut constitutes a feature of the process of my invention by which modifications of the design produced by a simple severing cut as heretofore made may be accomplished while maintaining the advantage of a continuous cutting operation if so desired and also the advantage of obtaining strips of like form.

The modifying cut 5 may bemade after the two strips are separated but this may require a separate operation and one which does not lend itself to the continuous process by which the severing'cut 2 may be made. The cut 5 may be made prior to the formation of the severing cut 2 but'in'su'ch 'case' in a continuous process it may becomeane'cessary to properly align the severing cut with respect to the position of cutouts formed by'removal of the piece Ii from the sheet I. Preferably,th erefore, Iform the cut 5 simultaneously with-thefformation of the severing out 2. This I may doby providing: the knife edge or other instrument such as a die used to sever the sheet alongzthe outlinei with a form providing cutting edgesalsoto cut the sheet in circular outline to form the edges I and 8; It is also clear that I may make" the severing cut 2 and immediately may punch through the sheet I astraddle said cut, thus removing the portions" of the sheet and formingthe edges I and 8, All such methods of procedure :and others which may be apparent to those'skilled in the art are within the scope of my invention which provides for the removal of a -porti'on of the-sheet astraddle a severing cut forming the outline of two strips of covering materiali Iii-general, however, I prefer to form the severing cutZ andthe cut 5 in a continuous operation by mounting upon a cylinder a cutting edge of thedesired outline to formthe tabs and spaces therebetw een, which cutting edge is'suitably associated'with-cuttin'g edges forproducing the circular cut'5 and to remove the portion 6 of the sheet. For this purp'osefconveniently may be used a'cylinder Ill'as shown in Figures 5 and 6 upon which is mounted the knife I2 of a form to produce the severing cut'2. As shown in Figures'5 and 6 the sheet I may be fed between said cylinder I and a-counter'roll I I so that by rotating the cylinder III the knife I2 is pressed against and through'the sheet I to form the severing out. At I5, in suitable relation to the knife I 2' properly to position the circular cuts with respect to the tabs so as to produce the desired design is provided the cutting edge for making the cutouts 5. I This cutting edge preferably is arranged adjacent an opening It in the cylinder through which the cutout portions 6, which-are removed fromvthe sheet, may be delivered to the cylinder chamber ll of the cylinder. Said chamber may be provided with sloping walls so as readily to discharge said cutout portions therefrom; The cutting-edge I in the particular embodiment illustrated, in order to form the circular cut 5 is ofcircular outline with the diameter of the circle upon the cutting edge I2, which forms the edge of'the' tab and the rear edge of the complementary'space. It will be clear, therefore, that as -the sheet l is passed continuously between the cylinder lll and the counter roll II not only will the severing cut 2 be made in' the sheet but the pieces=6 will becut therefrom to form the notches I- and-'8 in the two strips'at either side of the cut 2; said operationsbei'ng continuous and in proper relation to each other. j

While the invention has been described above in connection with. a strip having hexagonal tabs and circular notches and particularly in connection with acontinuous process of producing the strips using continuously operating apparatus for carrying out-the continuous process, I may produce the strips of my invention by hand or with the use of hand tools. As an illustration of this method of carrying out the process in Figure is shown a sheet I in which aseries of holes 25 of diamond shape are made in a strip along the center of the length thereof. I may first form these notches by using a tool such as a hand punch to remove the portions 26 of the base sheet I. I may then form severing cuts 22 by using a substantially semi-circular cutting knife 30 suitably constructed, as may be seen in Figures 5 and 7, so that its edge may be pressed into the sheet I and so as to connect between two consecutive holes 25. Said knife may be provided with a handle 3! which also may serve as a part upon which a blow of a hammer may be struck. By properly positioning the cutting knife 36) I form the cut 22 so as to be at one side of the line of said notches or holes. I then may form a similar cut 22 on the opposite side of said line of holes and connecting the second hole with the third hole. The second out 22 will be in reverse position to the first cut 22. By continuing these steps I may completely sever one portion of the sheet I at one side of the series of holes from the other portion and may produce strips which are of complementary form as to their tabs and recesses but which have notches 25 cut in the sides of the tabs. These notches 27 modify not only the form of the tab but the form of the recess between the tabs as will be apparent from the assembly shown in Figure 6. It should be noted that the notches or holes 25 are formed by complete removal of a portion of the base sheet substantially astraddle the sinuous outline which, in the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 is produced by the semi-circular cutting edge used to form the cuts 22. I may, however, first form the cuts 22 and then may punch the holes Zii astraddle the outline of said cuts 22.

As shown in Figure 5 the lengthwise strips I of the sheet material may be subdivided by cuts 35 transversely of said strips to out said .strips into elements upon which are formed the tabs and spaces of sinuous outline. By making the transverse cut 35 with an offset 36 means is provided for aligning the strips in each course by fitting to each other the offsets of elements adjacent endwise to each other in the course. This relationship is substantially that in which they are formed in the lengthwise strip i as illustrated in Figure 5. Moreover, such offsets may be used for positioning the elements being laid in one course with respect to a subjacent course by superimposing said offset over the rear edge of the strip in said subjacent course. By properly positioning the offset 36 in each strip with respect to the rear edge of said strip and with respect to the tips of the .tabson said strip, the accuracy and repetition of the design formed in the assembly of strips upon the surface is insured.

Various modifications of my invention may be made to produce different designs and to suit particular conditions and the order of the steps and the types of devices which may be convenient to carry out such steps may vary in different cases. All such variations, however, are

within the scope Of myinvention which covers the process of producing modifications of the forms of tabs and spaces-therebetweenon covering strips by removing portions .of thestrips on either: side of a severing cut made to-iprovidethe tabs and spaces. The tabs and the spaces thus become not complementary although retaining the general formof the complementary outlines with whichthey were made.

What I claim as new is:

1. Process of producing a covering. element which comprises forming in a sheet of material a out having an outline providing tabs with recesses therebetween, said out being formed with out removal of material to produce said recesses between the tabs, and cutting. out a portion of said sheet partly on one side and partly immediately on the other side of said out to form in the element at each side of said out a notch in the edge of its tab, said portion being so cut with respect to said outline as to position the notches respectively in similar relation to their tabs.

2. Process of producing strips of covering having tabs along an edge thereof which comprises cutting a sheet without removal of the material thereof in an outline providing similar tabs on the parts on each side of said outline and providing tioned in the sheet with respect to said outline of said out as to remove a portion of the sheet immediately at either side of said outline, said cut-out being so positioned along said outline that said portions removed from the sheet form notches in the tabs on either side thereof which are likepositioned in said tabs. I

3. Process of producing strips of covering having tabs along an edge thereof which comprises cutting without removal of the material thereof an elongated sheet longitudinally thereof between its longitudinal edges in an outline providing the tabs on the two parts on each side of said out and providing spaces therebetween complementary to said tabs, and forming in the sheet at least one cutout per tab so positioned in the sheet with respect to said longitudinal cut as to remove a portion of the sheet immediately at either side of said longitudinal cut and to make said tabs not complementary to said spaces hile forming in said two parts like strips of the covering.

4. Process of producing a covering element which comprises forming in a sheet of material without removal of the material thereof a cut having a sinuous outline providing upon the parts of the sheet at either side of the cut tabs with spaces therebetween of complementary outline to that of said tabs, and cutting out a portion of the sheet partly on one side of said sinuous outline and partly immediately on the other side thereof to form notches in the two portions of said sheet at either side of said outline, said portion being cut out from the sheet at a point along said outline such that the notches formed thereby respectively are similarly positioned with respect to said outline in the two elements on either side of saidcut.

5. Process of producing covering elements which comprises forming in a sheet of material a' out having an outline providing alongthe edge of each of the two parts of the sheet at either side of. the cut recesses and tabs respectively similar in the two parts, and simultaneously removing a portion of a tab of one part at one side of saidcut and a portion of the tab of the other part immediately at the other side of said out to form notches in said tabs, said notches being similarly positioned insaid tabs.

'6. Process of producing covering elements which comprises forming in a sheet "of material a cut 5 having a sinuous outline providing upon the parts of the sheet at either side of the cut tabs with spaces therebetween of complementary outline to that of said tabs, and cutting out a portion of the sheet partly on one side of said sinuous outline and partly immediately on the other side thereof to form notches in the two portions of said sheet at either side of said outline, said notches being made at a point on said outline symmetrically positioned with respect to thewtips of the two tabs whereby strips with like tabs are formed.

JOHN A. TOPPING. 

